Otter's Restaurant in Lafayette was hit by a pair of accused scam artists Friday. The pair placed an order for about $3.00 and paid with a 50-dollar bill. One of the suspects then confused the cashier by asking for specific bills back, tossing more bills toward the register, dealing bills back and forth like a game of cards. The suspects left with $50 more than they were supposed to.

Managers say it was a case of "quick change," a scam in which people try to get more cash back than they are supposed to by confusing the cashier.
"Basically the customer will come in, look for a younger clerk and inexperienced clerk and he'll present them by either purchasing an item or presenting them with several small bills and asking for change," said Cpl. Paul Mouton with the Lafayette Police Department.
It's an old "short-change" trick that tricked Otter's out of about $50. Managers at Otter's hope it won't happen to any other businesses in the area.

"That's the point of me filing this [police] report, it's not about the fifty dollars it's the fact that I hope this person gets caught," said Stuart Ottinger, one of the owners of Otter's.

Lafayette Police are investigating, if you have any information, give CrimeStoppers a call, the number 232-TIPS.

Jim Hummel

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